<h3>THE BLANK BIOGRAPHY.</h3>
<p>Lincoln had been reading from Edmund Burke's life, when he threw down
the book with disrelish. He fell into his habit of musing, and on
reviving, said to his associate, Herndon:</p>
<p>"I've wondered why book publishers do not have blank biographies on
their shelves, always ready for an emergency; so that if a man happens
to die, his heirs or his friends, if they wish to perpetuate his
memory, can purchase one already written--but with blanks. These
blanks <i>they</i> can fill up with rosy sentences full of
high-sounding praise."</p>
<p>He sent the "Dictionary of Congress" his autobiography in a single
paragraph of fifty words--as an example(?).
<br/>
<br/>
<br/></p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />